Pop Up Shakespeare: As You Like It (the short version)

Summary

In a condensed adaptation of Shakespeare's 'As You Like It,' the story unfolds with Orlando, the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Bois, at odds with his brother Oliver over inheritance. After a wrestling match where Orlando triumphs over Charles, the Duke's champion, he catches the eye of Rosalind, the daughter of the banished Duke. When Rosalind is also banished, she and her cousin Celia, along with others, flee to the Forest of Arden. Disguised as Ganymede and Aliena, they encounter Orlando, who is smitten with Rosalind. A series of comedic misunderstandings and love triangles ensue, with characters falling in and out of love. Eventually, Oliver is saved by Orlando, leading to reconciliation, and Duke Frederick's conversion to a religious life removes the barrier to happiness. The play concludes with multiple marriages and Rosalind breaking the fourth wall, addressing the audience with a playful offer to kiss all the bearded men, leaving everyone in high spirits.

Takeaways

• 👨‍👧 Orlando, the youngest son of the late Sir Rowland de Bois, is in conflict with his brother Oliver over inheritance issues.
• 🥊 Orlando decides to wrestle Duke Frederick's champion, Charles, and against all odds, he wins the match, impressing Rosalind.
• 💕 Rosalind, who is already smitten with Orlando, learns that her father and Orlando's were friends, which deepens her affection for him.
• 👑 Duke Frederick, feeling threatened by the friendship between Rosalind and Celia, banishes Rosalind under false accusations.
• 🧝‍♂️ Rosalind, in exile, disguises herself as a man named Ganymede, while Celia takes on the persona of a woman named Aliena.
• 🌲 In the Forest of Arden, Orlando, heartbroken and in love with Rosalind, writes sonnets and posts them on trees.
• 📜 Ganymede (Rosalind) encounters Orlando and devises a plan to 'cure' him of his love sickness by impersonating Rosalind.
• 🏞️ The Forest of Arden becomes a place where multiple characters experience love triangles and unrequited love.
• 🐍 Oliver, Orlando's brother, has a change of heart after Orlando saves him from a snake bite, leading to a complex web of relationships.
• 🦊 Touchstone, Duke Frederick's jester, falls in love with a goatherd named Audrey, adding another layer to the romantic entanglements.
• 🧘 Duke Frederick, after meeting a hermit, adopts a religious lifestyle, which indirectly aids the resolution of the play's conflicts.
• 💍 The play culminates in a series of marriages, resolving the romantic complications and restoring the rightful Duke to power.
• 🎭 Rosalind breaks the fourth wall, addressing the audience and hoping that their story has brought them joy, ending the play on a light-hearted note.

Q & A

Who is the youngest son of the late Sir Rowland de Bois?

Orlando is the youngest son of the late Sir Rowland de Bois.

Why is Orlando angry with his brother Oliver?

Orlando is angry with his brother Oliver because Oliver is keeping Orlando's share of the inheritance from him.

What is the role of Adam in the wrestling match between Charles and Orlando?

Adam is the family Butler and Orlando's confidante who breaks up the fight between Orlando and Oliver.

Why does Charles believe that Orlando should be killed during the wrestling match?

Charles believes that Orlando should be killed during the wrestling match because Oliver tricks Charles into thinking that Orlando is plotting against him.

How does Rosalind learn that her father and Orlando's father were good friends?

Rosalind finds out that her father and Orlando's father were good friends after she goes to congratulate Orlando for beating Charles in the wrestling match.

What happens to Rosalind after Duke Frederick banishes her?

After Duke Frederick banishes Rosalind, she disguises herself as a man named Ganymede and, along with Celia (disguised as a young woman named Aliena), they go into exile in the Forest of Arden.

How does Orlando demonstrate his love for Rosalind after fleeing to the Forest of Arden?

Orlando, sick with love for Rosalind, begins writing sonnets for her and posting them on trees in the forest.

What is Rosalind's plan to cure Orlando of his love sickness?

Rosalind, disguised as Ganymede, hatches a plot to cure Orlando of his love sickness by pretending to be his lost love, Rosalind.

How does Oliver's attitude towards Orlando change after a near-death experience?

Oliver's attitude towards Orlando changes after Orlando saves him from a deadly snake bite, which results in Orlando being wounded in the process.

What significant change does Duke Frederick undergo after meeting a hermit in the forest?

After meeting a hermit in the forest, Duke Frederick is converted to a strict religious lifestyle, which leads to him renouncing his previous actions and removing himself as the main obstacle to everyone's happiness.

How does the story of 'As You Like It' end?

The story ends with a series of marriages: Rosalind to Orlando, Celia to Oliver, Phoebe to Silvius, and Audrey to Touchstone. Duke Frederick returns Rosalind's father to his rightful status as Duke Senior, and everyone is happy. Rosalind breaks the fourth wall to address the audience, hoping their story has pleased them.